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Dedication of “Ribbons Not Walls” display at Brevard UU Church, April 2, 2017

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Roger Brewin

“Ribbons” consists of twenty four fabric art panels from over 40 artists around the country. Some are based on themes or cover art from books by Hispanic authors; others directly represent aspects of the immigrant experience. “Ribbons” was displayed at the UUA General Assemblies in Louisville, KY (2013), Providence, RI (2014), Portland, OR (2015) and Columbus, OH (2016). In between, panels have traveled to over 60 venues (UU congregations, Humanist meetings, art galleries, etc), and have been viewed by over 14,000 people. More than 200 individuals (mostly UUs and humanists) have been involved in the fabrication, curation, display and financial sponsorship of the exhibit.

Following four years on the road, and the wear and tear of being repeatedly set up and taken down, “Ribbons” is transitioning to permanent sites around the country. These four panels are now on display at the Brevard UU Church, 2185 Meadowlane Ave, West Melbourne, FL 32904:

Ribbons! Not Walls!

Artist: Barbara Kurtz, Friendship Fellowship (UU), Rockledge, FLTheme: The living connections that make us one world, one people.Medium: Silk clothing remnants.

Burning …
Artist: Rev. Kendyl Gibbons, All Souls UU Church, Kansas City, MO.
Theme: Anonymous volumes honor those who have suffered for what they have written.
Medium: Piece work quilting.

Ribbons Not Walls is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association. It was inspired by another UUHA social justice project, “Banned Books by Hispanic Authors,” which collected over 400 copies of books removed from Tucson classrooms when Arizona outlawed the teaching of “Ethnic Studies” in public Schools. These were displayed at the UU General Assembly in Phoenix in 2012, then donated to Puente, a local community organizing group. Similar local libraries were established at Hispanic Community Centers in Louisville, Tucson and El Paso.

Ribbons Not Walls is curated by Roger and Katherine Brewin, 10559 S Wood St. Chicago, IL 60643. Contact them at 773 551 8540 or rabrewin@aol.com. Thanks to Jim Morison for this installation.

On behalf of the Board and staff of the UU Humanist Association, we are pleased to transfer custody of four fabric art panels from the UUHA immigration project, Ribbons Not Walls, to the UU Church of Brevard for permanent display.

These works by artists Kendyl Gibbons, Barbara Kurtz, Nicole Smith and the UU youth of the Navigator Scouts chapter in Palatine, IL are part of a larger collection that has utilized art to carry a message of welcome and inclusion to audiences around the country. We are delighted that they will now help welcome members and visitors alike to UUCB, and will remind all who enjoy them here, of the highest values of both Humanism and Unitarian Universalism.

Roger Brewin became a UU minister in 1977 and is currently retired from active ministry, after serving nine UU congregations. He is Minister Emeritus of First Unitarian Church of Hobart, IN. Roger is a long-time board member of HUUmanists and is editor of our journal, "Religious Humanism". He also performs one-man shows as a historical impersonator of Darwin, Dickens and Clarence Darrow.

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About the UU Humanists

The Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association (formerly HUUmanists) is committed to Humanist principles of reason, compassion, and human fulfillment enumerated in the Humanist Manifestos and in the seven Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We seek (1) to promote a broad acceptance of Humanism in our society, particularly throughout the Unitarian Universalist Association and its congregations, and (2) to provide an active interface between Unitarian Universalists and the secular community.